Edinburgh Rugby back-row, David Denton, has been named the Hotel du Vin/Malmaison player of the month for December, just two days after being named to start against England in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield.
The 21-year-old has been instrumental in the club’s big performances this season and kick-started the critical month with a try in the convincing home win over Aironi (50-10).
He then started the honours-even head-to-head Heineknen Cup matches with Cardiff Blues (8-28 and 19-12) and the 23-23 draw with city rivals Glasgow Warriors in front of the Scottish record crowd at Murrayfield for the RaboDirect PRO12.
Denton, who narrowly missed out on a place in the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad, believes the club’s run to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals (v Toulouse, Saturday 7 April) has paved the way for his international call.
He said: "My own performances were part of some a incredible efforts across the whole Edinburgh Rugby team, so it means a lot to get this award in a month where so many players put their bodies on the line and put in some great work.
“As a squad we targeted the winter months so the most important thing was to be successful as a team. This award, as well as selection for the Scotland v England game, is the recognition that I played my part in that success."
In October the big blonde extended his contract with the Edinburgh Rugby, keeping him at Murrayfield until 2014 and, at the time, Edinburgh Rugby head coach Michael Bradley, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve retained the services of such a big, dynamic, physical forward for two years beyond this season."
How right he was.
